Why this is a great time to be alive if you are an Arsenal fan

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has already signed two new players (Picture: AP)

Just 62 days since Arsenal last took to the pitch, the boys are back to face Boreham Wood in the traditional pre-season opener. Well, some of them are back.

Those who were involved in the World Cup get a little bit longer off, some more than others.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returns on Monday, Jack Wilshere came back early after he was caught having a sneaky cigarette while the likes of Mesut Ozil, Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker won’t bring their World Cup-winning asses back until later.

Alexis Sanchez and Mathieu Debuchy have also got a bit more time off.

That’s right. Two newbies and we aren’t even out of July.

Neither of them were free or a French youngster no-one had heard off. Two top-drawer signings and an indication that things have finally changed at Arsenal, that the times of austerity are coming to an end [if not finally over] and we will get to reap the benefits of the new stadium.

This is what it has all been about, these last nine or so years – being able to compete with the oil money using our own resources.

Of course, when the Emirates plan was put in to place, the oil barons hadn’t quite changed the footballing landscape in the ways that they would come to, but the end result is the same – we can spend without owing anyone.

It’s all rather lovely.

Back onto the football itself and it is pre-season and not anything to get over-excited about or worked up over.

Chile’s Alexis Sanchez has got Arsenal fans very excited about the new season (Picture: AP Photo)

It’s a chance to get minutes on the board and fitness in place. It gives Arsene Wenger a chance to have a look at some of the younger and fringe players. It’s nothing more than that.

But as we all know, life is infinitely more enjoyable when Arsenal are playing than when they’re not.

Even if it is against Boreham Wood in a meaningless friendly that you have to watch on a stream via the Arsenal website.

Arsenal fans are looking forward to this new season in a way they haven’t for the past decade.

There is a sense of hope and optimism about what is to come and only a little bit of dread about having to play a top four side when the kick-off time is 12.45pm.

It’s a rather nice feeling.

Hopefully by the time the real football rolls around, Arsenal might also have more than one goalkeeper at the club.